"It's good enough if you can remember it. The skill of slicing eel is all about practice, you can't learn it overnight." Xiao Lei laughed, slicing as he spoke.
"To make Linjiang Eel Shreds, you should choose small eels weighing less than 25 g. The size should be uniform, as this will result in a more delicate texture. Choosing the right eel is also key."
"Master, are these eels bones fried?" Zhou Yan asked. When he ate Linjiang Eel Shreds, the shopkeeper would also give him a side of crispy fried eel bones, saying that they were fried from the bones of the eels he ordered.
This is a side dish, similar to ordering roast duck and receiving a pot of duck bones stew with pickled radish and duck bones, and then having you pay extra to order a few more dishes for hot pot.
Of course, the eel bones, without any hidden ingredients, are just a complimentary side dish to accompany the drinks.
They're quite delicious.
"You even know such a sophisticated way of eating?" Xiao Lei looked at him with some surprise.
Zhou Yan stared at him: "Even if you haven't eaten pork, you've seen pigs run, right? But Master, last time during the Chinese New Year, I went to your house to eat Linjiang Eel Shreds, but I didn't get to eat fried eel bones. Did you eat them all by yourself behind our backs?"
Xiao Lei said seriously, "Nonsense! How could I eat it all by myself? I used the eel bones to make broth, which I then used to cook eel shreds."
"Does adding broth make a big difference? Does adding water even work?" Zhou Yan asked seriously.
"To be honest, there's not much difference." Xiao Lei laughed: "This dish uses a lot of ingredients, and the eel itself is of good quality. There's no point in simmering the eel bones in broth for three or four hours. It just wastes time. The eel shreds will be stale after three hours. It's putting the cart before the horse."
Zhou Yan laughed upon hearing this, "Then let's fry these eel bones."
"Okay, that's perfect with drinks." Xiao Lei agreed.
The eel shreds were prepared, placed in a large enamel basin, and then rinsed several times with clean water until the water was clear and the eel shreds looked crisp.
Remove the head and tail of the eel bones and rinse them thoroughly with clean water.
The high price of Linjiang Eel Shreds is justified. Wild eels are expensive to begin with, and the preparation method is too complicated and time-consuming, resulting in significant waste.
The eel strips peeled from this jin of eels probably amount to less than half a jin.
Zhou Yan could cook three dishes just by using the time it takes to boil and shred eels.
The dish of Linjiang Eel Shreds has only just completed the ingredient preparation step.
Even if Zhou Yan learns how to make this dish, he won't easily put it on the menu.
This would be a good opportunity to turn into a specialty shop for Linjiang Eel Shreds, with dedicated staff to cook the eels and prepare the shreds eels, and a head chef in charge of cooking.
The food needs to taste good, and the prices need to be high. If he can build a good reputation, he can make a lot of money.
It's not suitable for his small restaurant's menu, but learning it would be a unique skill.
In future family gatherings, there might be debate about who is in charge of twice-cooked pork, but when he makes Linjiang Eel Shreds, everyone else will definitely have to step aside and beg him for a piece.
Is Eel Zhang considered a master of his skill?
But he's still completely outmaneuvered by his master.
"Really deep-frying? That method uses a lot of oil." Xiao Lei, preparing to mix the cornstarch slurry, looked at Zhou Yan again to confirm.
Zhou Yan waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Master, who runs a restaurant and worries about using too much oil? Just do your thing."
"Okay." Xiao Lei responded and started mixing the batter, saying, "To make the eel bones crispy, this batter is key, just like with fried fish..."
Heat a wok and add plenty of oil—about half a wok of rapeseed oil, at least five or six jin.
Once the oil is hot, add the eel bones coated with a cornstarch slurry.
Sizzle!
The eel bones sizzled in the oil, and the aroma of eggs mingled with the fragrance of the eel bones, quickly filling the air and the color gradually turned yellow.
Remove the eel bones from the oil and fry them again at a higher temperature.
Repeat this process three times until the eel bones are golden brown and crispy.
"Look, this is what a good state looks like." Xiao Lei scooped out the eel bones and put them on two plates.
[An extremely good fried eel bones dish]
The assessment provides an evaluation.
Second only to perfect, it's already very high.
"Let me try!" Zhou Yan didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up a piece of eel bone with his chopsticks, blew on it slightly, and then put it in his mouth.
Crunch!
The crispy texture was evident from the sound.
The hard eel bones become exceptionally crispy after being deep-fried three times, yet they have a delicate texture and a unique flavor, salty, fragrant, and slightly numbing, that becomes more fragrant the more you chew them.
"It smells so good! It's fried to perfection, crispy and delicate, and the more I chew, the more fragrant it becomes." Zhou Yan exclaimed.
"This dish is called 'Dragon Bone' on the menu, tell me, isn't it delicious?" Xiao Lei said with a smile, picking up a piece himself and crunching it loudly in his mouth. Looking at Zhou Yan, he said, "I'm about to start cooking eel shreds. Why don't you make some noodles? Two or three liang each person. Linjiang Eel Shreds are best enjoyed with noodles, then we won't need to cook anything else tonight."
"Okay." Zhou Yan nodded. He had actually thought of that too, and started kneading the dough to make noodles.
Zhou Momo had already run to the kitchen door, drawn by the aroma, and stood on tiptoe, gazing longingly at the two plates of fried eel bones on the stove. She asked curiously, "Guo Guo, what's that?"
"These are fried eel bones." Zhou Yan replied with a smile while kneading the dough.
"Here you go, little one, have a piece." Xiao Lei said with a smile, picking up an eel bone for Zhou Momo.
"Thank you, Uncle!" Zhou Momo reached out and took the eel bone, popped it into her mouth, and took a bite. With a soft crunch, her eyes lit up. "Wow, so crisp! So fragrant!"
Crunch! Crunch!
She ate the eel bone like a kitten, biting off pieces one by one, then chewing and swallowing them with relish.
She finished eating, licked her lips, and then stared longingly at Xiao Lei.
"Want some more?" Xiao Lei asked with a smile.
"Mmm." Zhou Momo nodded her head and praised in her childish voice, "It's so delicious! Uncle is so amazing! Just as good as Guo Guo!"
Xiao Lei: ...
This praise left him momentarily unsure whether to be happy or ashamed.
However, the little one's affection was written all over her face, and she had a sweet tongue, so who could refuse her? Xiao Lei picked up another eel bone for her and said gently, "Come on, have one more. You can't eat anymore. Fried food is easy to cause internal heat."
"Mmm, the last one." Zhou Momo reached out and took it, then sat down on the small stool next to her, chewing slowly in small bites, happily swinging her short legs.
Zhou Yan placed the kneaded dough aside, covered it with an enamel basin, and then went to the stove to watch his master make eel shreds.
The excess oil in the wok has been skimmed off, leaving only a little oil at the bottom. Add a spoonful of lard, and the rule of mixed oils takes effect again. This is probably the classic oil usage method in Sichuan cuisine.
Saute scallions and ginger until fragrant, then add chopped fermented bean paste and stir-fry until the oil turns red. Next, add the previously prepared chili segments, pickled peppers, pickled ginger, and other ingredients and stir-fry until fragrant. Add water and bring to a boil. Once the broth has thickened, add the previously shredded eel and gently push it with a spoon so that the eel is submerged in the broth.
"It's a pity there are no celtuce leaves this season, otherwise adding some would be even better. Next, let's start seasoning. The ingredients are quite simple: a little pepper, a suitable amount of salt. The fermented bean paste and pickled vegetables are already salty, so you have to control the amount you use." Xiao Lei said while seasoning, "Bring it to a boil over high heat, and after the broth has reduced a bit, add the previously prepared cornstarch slurry to thicken it, so that the eel shreds can be coated with the sauce. Once it reaches this consistency, it's ready to be taken out of the wok."
The eel shreds were scooped out and placed into a large basin that was prepared on the side, filling it about halfway.
The wok next to it was already heating oil, using the rapeseed oil from frying the eel bones earlier, with half a spoonful of lard added.
A layer of mixed chili powder and sesame seeds was sprinkled on the eel shreds, and then spoonfuls of hot oil were poured over the surface.
Just like making chili oil, the aroma of chili powder and sesame seeds is fully brought out without burning due to excessive oil temperature.
Sizzle!
The hot oil sizzled and bubbled, releasing a fragrant aroma, and its color instantly turned a bright red.
While the oil is still bubbling, sprinkle a layer of perilla leaves on top, almost covering the entire basin. The hot oil will soften it immediately. Then sprinkle a handful of tender green scallions, and a serving of Linjiang Eel Shreds is ready.
The kitchen doorway was crowded with people.
Qian Siyuan and Lin Zhiqiang had arrived early, and Aunt Zhao, Comrade Old Zhou, and Zhao Hong, who had just finished their lunch break, also peeked out curiously.
Linjiang Eel Shreds are quite famous in Jiazhou, but you can only find this dish in big restaurants in Jiazhou and in Linjiang itself, most people probably haven't tried it.
"Come on, make way! Dinner's ready!" Zhou Yan carried a large basin of Linjiang Eel Shreds out of the kitchen and placed it in the middle of the table.
Xiao Lei brought out two plates of fried eel bones and placed them on either side.
Qian Siyuan looked at the basin of bright red Linjiang Eel Shreds, and felt a tickle in his throat, but it smelled so good!
It was a spicy and fragrant aroma with a unique scent.
Zhou Yan greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Qian, please sit down and try the Linjiang Eel Shreds made by my master. Is it the same as the one your mother remembers?"
"Alright, thank you both for your hard work." Qian Siyuan sat down, took the bowl and chopsticks handed to him by his secretary, and looked at the basin of bright red food, unsure of where to begin.
They used the basin as tableware, placing it directly in the center of the table. He hadn't seen such a rustic way of eating in a long time.
Everyone else stood, watching him with curiosity.
Xiao Lei said, "Mr. Qian, I've prepared four jin of eels for dinner today. I plan to have dinner with Zhou Yan and his family, and also invite you to try the Linjiang Eel Shreds. I wonder if you mind if we all sit down for dinner?"
Qian Siyuan smiled upon hearing this and nodded, saying, "Of course I don't mind! My arrival has caused you all a lot of trouble, so I certainly can't delay your meals and business any longer. Please have a seat."
After spending an afternoon with Zhou Yan's family, he developed a good impression of them.
The woman of the house was straightforward, the man was quiet but friendly, and Zhou Momo was so adorable that she even drew a picture for him.
Needless to say, Zhou Yan went to great lengths for this stranger, sacrificing his lunch break to ask his master to prepare such a complicated dish.
He was the one who was actually freeloading, almost putting the cart before the horse.
"Alright, everyone, sit down and eat." Zhou Yan said with a smile, helping Zhou Momo to a chair.
"Zhou Miao, go cut two plates of braised meat and vegetables." Zhao Tieying called out.
Zhou Miao responded and turned to go into the kitchen. A moment later, he returned with three plates of braised meat and braised vegetables.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile, sitting down next to Qian Siyuan.
The eight-person table was just the right size, seating eight people perfectly.
"To eat eel shreds, you first need to mix the flavors well, stirring slowly in one direction, just like mixing noodles, so that the flavors of the chili, sesame, and perilla leaves on the eel shreds are fully incorporated into the broth. Then, coat the eel shreds with the mixture. That's the only way to make it delicious." Xiao Lei personally took a pair of new chopsticks and mixed the eel shreds well.
As he flipped it, the aroma of the eel shreds immediately filled the air along with the steam.
Everyone couldn't help but swallow hard.
[An extremely good serving of Linjiang Eel Shreds]
Zhou Yan glanced at the appraisal results, the evaluation was quite high.
"These eel shreds look amazing. Once the bones are removed, they're like noodles, they must taste fantastic." Zhao Tieying couldn't help but exclaim.
Qian Siyuan paused, then looked up at Zhao Tieying. He remembered that his mother had said something similar when she talked about this dish years ago, her tone and intonation were almost identical.
Yes!
Their accents were similar, though somewhat different from those of other parts of Sichuan.
"The key to eating eel shreds is the enjoyment. You can pick up multiple eel shreds with one chopstick and eat them in one bite to savor the flavor." Xiao Lei demonstrated by picking up a chopstickful of eel shreds and putting it in his mouth, his face immediately lighting up.
Qian Siyuan picked up three strips of eel, the thick broth and dipping sauce coating them, and fed them to his mouth.
The eel slices are cut into thin, even pieces and coated with a rich broth, bursting with fresh, fragrant, spicy, and numbing flavors in his mouth.
Tender and bouncy, and boneless!
He slurped it up in one go, just like eating noodles.
The eel shreds had a soft, smooth texture, chewy yet firm, exceptionally tender and refreshing.
It was completely different from the sticky texture he had imagined.
One bite, and the satisfaction was incredible!
It was truly amazing!
He understood…
He finally understood why his mother still longed for this dish of Linjiang Eel Shreds even decades after leaving her hometown.
Perhaps it wasn't just because of the delicious food, but also because of her deep longing for her hometown.
He simply couldn't imagine how that seemingly unappetizing eel could be transformed into such a delicious dish.
The Sichuan chefs are amazing!
They seem to have the ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
This was the taste of her mother's hometown.
That dish of Linjiang Eel Shreds, which haunted her dreams and remained unforgettable.
More than 20 years later, he set foot on the land of Jiazhou and tasted it.
With tears streaming down his face, Qian Siyuan looked up at Xiao Lei and said, "Master Xiao, thank you for letting me taste the flavor my mother always longed for."
Xiao Lei, who was enjoying his meal, had no choice but to put down his chopsticks and said in a serious tone, "You're welcome. Since you think this is the hometown food that your mother misses, then I'll accompany you to Linjiang to find your relatives tomorrow."
Qian Siyuan nodded, "Okay, I'll pick you up by car first thing tomorrow morning. Thank you for coming with me."
"That's great! Now we finally have a clear lead. Perhaps we'll get good results in Linjiang." Lin Zhiqiang said excitedly. Although the order cooperation hadn't been finalized yet, but this was still very encouraging.
Zhou Yan was equally excited.
The search for relatives has made significant progress thanks to the clues about food, the quest is on the verge of success!
He breathed a sigh of relief and picked up some eel shreds with his chopsticks and fed them to himself.
The eel shreds, coated in broth, resemble thick noodles. Upon tasting, the fresh, fragrant, spicy, and numbing flavors explode on the tongue.
Authentic mud eel has a truly unique taste and texture, it's tender, bouncy, and incredibly smooth, without being mushy.
It tastes so fresh! From field to wok, less than two hours.
The aroma of perilla leaves is very prominent, giving it a unique flavor.
One bite, and it's so satisfying!
Isn't this kind of Linjiang Eel Shreds perfect enough?
Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow, the evaluation was still too strict.
The Linjiang Eel Shreds were praised by everyone who ate them.
Halfway through the meal, Zhou Yan went into the kitchen and stretched the risen dough into thin noodles, which would better hold the broth.
When he came out with a bowl of cooked noodles, most of the eel shreds in the basin had already been eaten.
"This soup is so much better when eaten with the noodles!" Xiao Lei said with a smile, and everyone's eyes lit up.
The eel strips were delicious, but something felt off.
Oh, it was the main dish that was missing!
The highest praise for a dish is to save it for the noodles.
Today's dish of Linjiang Eel Shreds absolutely deserves this praise.
Zhou Yan put the noodles into the eels soup, stirred them with chopsticks, and the snow-white noodles were immediately coated with red oil, absorbing the soup and the freshness of the eels.
"Here, let me serve you some noodles." Zhou Yan said with a smile, serving each person a bowl of noodles.
Slurping sounds and exclamations of praise immediately filled the air.
He filled his bowl with noodles, picked up a strip of eel, and slurped it down.
The numbing, spicy, fresh and fragrant struck right at his soul!
Served with delicious eel shreds, it was absolutely divine!
He couldn't stop eating it, one bite after another!
Linjiang Eel Shreds Noodles, who could resist that?